The Lloyd Triestino shipping line resumed direct calls to its homeport of Trieste in Italy with a maiden call by the Merkur Bay at Westport on Thursday.

The visit by the 2764 TEU vessel marks the launch of a new direct express service, which offers a short transit period of 15 days via Westport.

Lloyd Triestino Shipping Sdn Bhd country manager Richard Tan said the service reflects the shipping line's growing emphasis on the Malaysian market with direct eastbound and westbound calls, both in Port Klang and Tanjong Pelepas.

"Imports and exports from Penang will be transshipped via this port. We find Westport very strategic for this purpose", he said in a statement.

"Cargo to and from the neighboring countries in Southeast Asia and Australia will be transshipped via PKL (Port Klang) and PTP (Port of Tanjung Pelepas)"

"Through the Mediterranean hub of Taranto in Southern Italy, Lloyd Triestino provides further links to a wide range of East Mediteranean and Black Sea Ports."

He said the exports from Asia to the Adriatic and Central/Eastern Europe continue to grow and the new Adriatic Service (ADR) is well positioned to offer customers the best possible routing options.

The ADR is operated in partnership with CMA CGM and will utilize seven ships, each capable of carrying 2400 TEUs.Five ships will be furnished by Lloyd Triestino and two by CMA CGM.

The port of Trieste has traditionally been the southern gateway to the Austrian market.

Containers discharged in Trieste, bound for Vienna and Salzburg, will be immediately connected to block trains, enabling customers to save between three and five days in door-to-door transit time, as Trieste is geographically closer to Austria.